U.S. Presence in Libya: A Brief History

When a mob attacked the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi on Tuesday, killing Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans, it was just the latest in a series of security incidents targeting American diplomats in Libya over the past 18 months. Over the past several years, however, U.S.-Libyan relations have thawed following decades of icy relations between longtime leader Moammar Gadhafi and successive American presidents.

Here's a brief history of recent relations between Washington and Tripoli:

Cretz departs Libya amid concerns over his safety after a spat with the Libyan government about comments in cables published by Wikileaks

January 2009

Gene Cretz becomes the first U.S. ambassador in Tripoli since 1972

May 31, 2006

U.S. and Libya agree to upgrade the U.S. Liaison Office in Tripoli to a full embassy, but no ambassador named

June 24, 2004

U.S. diplomatic presence upgraded to a Liaison Office

Feb. 8, 2004

Diplomatic relations between U.S. and Libya resume, U.S. Interest Section in Tripoli established after diplomatic breakthroughs convinced Gadhafi to give up his nuclear weapons program.

December 21, 1988

A bomb aboard Pan Am flight 103 brings the plane down over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing all 243 passengers and 16 crew members. Another 11 people were killed on the ground. Libya was eventually blamed for the attack.

April 15, 1986

The United States retaliates for the La Belle attack, bombing Gadhafi's compound outside Tripoli.

April 9, 1986

President Ronald Reagan calls Gadhafi the "mad dog of the Middle East" following the La Belle bombing.

April 5, 1986

A bomb exploded in the La Belle discotheque in Berlin, killing three people, including two American servicemen, and injuring dozens. Libya was eventually blamed for the attack

Dec. 2, 1979

Mob attacks U.S. embassy in Tripoli, prompting U.S. government to pull out its remaining staff